Atomizing device



PQR-26, 71935. A. J. ADAMS ATOMIZING DEVICE Filed Oct. 7, 1932 Patented Feb. 26, 1935 UNITED STATE-s p `A'roMI'zfING DEVICE ,o .Arthur John Adams, Application anthem, waasefiazlnn."

s claims. .lor

This `inventionrelates to fatomizing for disintegrating devices adapted for :spraying .liquidsgor lluids. .Theprincipal object of .the invention isrto provide :an @improved .and@efficient Afatomizing l or 5 .spraying-` nozzle which, while; particularly adapted forfuseyin ,hum-idifyingx or air-conditioning apparatus, is capable lofi useggenerally. whereveryit-is desired toprovidefa fluidspray or lmist.V :Many .uses 'to 4which the vdevice may Vloe applied will .occurtopersonsfifarniliar with the artfof, atomizing.fluids,fandfneedfnotfbe specically mentioned .Another -object of thefinventionis v1to provide "a dem'cetof f this; nature which comprises few relatively simple parts Vthat may be :readily :rre- ,movledlorfdisassembled When-desired.` n i f .Aifurtherfobiect of the invention is -t.opro- Ivide an l atomizingf device which incorporates certainv features 'offconstruetion vthatnmutl-lally i con- :tribute toward a; generally improved gdevice.l By virtue ,of these structural featurescomplete Aand efrioientiatomization or disintegration ofthetfluid ,isfobtained I Y o 1 The invention in gai-preferred form is. illusrtrated on `ithe :accompanying drawing .to which referencemaybe :had: infeonnection PWithztheol- .lowingdescription Irl-the'drawing: l

Eig. :gl ris asiicley elevational vview f of the device;

;;Eig.:2 is afaoeaviewilookng atrthe1devicefrom :the left @side thereof as lillustrated5in.'Fig.1;

`EFigigis a Asectionalf elevation :ofthe :device: and

iligs. 'f4 to 1.7 are sectional Niews ^italien ,respecstivelytailong'thez-a-rrow fheadzlines `of :.Fig. f3 shearingcorrespond'mg numerals,

@Referring toithe severalfviews of the: drawing, the idevicedin theA preferredijforrn Vcomprises essen- .:tiallyfa tubular'abarrel'fl .Within Whiehzisfdisposed :a ,plug '2. .The joarrelfiszgenerally cyiindricalin :form having :the ,central :bore Vopenine' fextend- ,ing longitudinally therethrough wwithin l .which -vvithfa tthreaded f openngrfi which receives fthe threadedend lof .an air .;inlet :pipe `5. ,The other fend :of :this pipe-.is enlarged and :threaded las :at f6. Theucentral: bore .opening .7 'of thispipeihas .oneendaredsas at 38 andfadaptedito snuglygre- `fceive .thetaperedznozzlehead 9 of;a^tulou1ar 4.couzplingimemloer fl0, thus:fforming; angair-tightgj oint. -A cap 1,1 :is it'hreadedly :secured to `-the :enlarged head-.6 .ofzpipe 55 andservesrtorrnly attachicouplng :member 10 :to :the :pipe MTo thisl'end, :the annular shoulder 12 is provided Aonfhead-'Q fand Ithis-.fshoulder ais .engagedrby the :flange of icap' 11 :surrounding :the opening -zof 5 the cap :through .Whichcouplingffmember 10;-iextends. .Member 10 .mayihefeonnected-to amine orfrhose .leadingito a suitable sourceaoffcompressed air. /By'fvi-rtue yof the tconstruction 'tof lt11e-.olevioe,Y air gat relatively ,low-pressuremaylgbemsed'andfthis is ang-important advantage.

V@nefend-of barrel 11 fis-threadedas at 7.1'4iand receives .aioap ,which serves torsecure he tul .-bular lcoupling rrnemloer16v .Kto the barrel. The liangedihead.ilfliofrfmember liisfengaged flgy the flange V1.8 o f Gap 115. The ylintermal `surface :of .the eend for bQretopenins-:B is fflared (at mand :it .is adapted :filo snugly ireceive y,the aliased end 20 of plug `2 to formaatlghtglioinlhandto limitfthe ,longitudinal `frnovernent tof -ithe :plug :relative to the barrel.. A-:euitable washer .21 :is interposed .fbetween the tend A;of :plug 2 and :the flanged -end of'iceuplingimemlzer lr6. in .this mannerfithencll- '-.plingfmemberzds :secured tto ;the-5aarrel,.p1ug `2 fis fheldinthefloore;openingiiandlaztight jointjsef- `fected. vMeinlrrer` 16 yvxnayflee s connected :t0 :a pipe iorfshoseleading: asuitaolesourcefzoffliquidf(not shownwvhichcitus-desiredito atomifae. Although thespecic structures aboveedescribed forv s e- .curine tcoupline members 10y andi-16 vtobarrel 13 are fpreferred,` it ato amderstood `:that fany .othersuitablemeansorisetving:this: purposegmay libe autilZQd.

.':It is intended :ihattplug Zibezrenioyablyeassociated.ovithaharreklrandareadily removable theref femmhm-.merelyauneouplingrmember f1.6 and slidling thesflp-lugafroimthebarrel. .gniorderz'to insure #that ming 2zsshalliihemroperlv :no'sitionedwithin the barrel at all timesiandfrotaryimovementfef theiplug prevented,:a transverse nain 22 isicarzied l by thefplugxandehas an extending endxlzadapted :to ride ,in :a flongitudinal-:rgrove:Zei-formedjnzhore .openinga' ,znsfshownnnoretclearly finelig. fi. `l'lZhis groove is tout in f the aintennal iciilmdrical .surface of the bore :opening Land gfextends :from :the end thereof :longitudinally :of tatheahore openingifor a suitablelength :Plug Bihas aylindricalportion '25 `which is ofsuch tdiameterthat 1 .it :lits snugly wthinthe cylindripalfspaceiinside barrel 1. The `4plugeis,y diminished fin vdiameter ttt-.26 iat la; point immediatelyiadjacentthe mouthaofzpipef This :providesfan'zannular spacca? between the plus and the irbarrel 'fithroueh "which 1an' fromipipe 5 :may;cir.culate.V Rortion 8 @of-plug 2 4is ila'ttened Aand.apreferyably.ifcxrmedias @triangular prism with zsnuglyferlgases:thelntemalssurface.ofithebarrel ofthe plug and at 2 at spaced points, viz., at the cylindrical portion the rounded apexes of the prismatic portion of the plug. Although it is preferred that the prismatic portion of the plug be triangular, any other suitable prismatic form may be given to the portion. By virtue of this structure, three air passages 31 are provided between the faces 29 and the internal surface of the barrel. The air circulating in the annular chamber 27 may'ow along these passages as will be apparent. The tight lit between portion 25 of the plug and barrel 3 prevents the flow of air in the other direction. y

A cap 32Vts snugly over the other end of plug body 2 and is secured thereto in any desired fashion so as to in effect constitute a part of the plug body. Plug 2 is provided with a central loni gitudinal bore opening or passage 33 which Valigns with the bore opening of coupling member 16 and is adapted to receive the liquid therefrom which it is desired to atomize. The bore opening 33terminates short of the end of plug 2 and conununicates with a pair of spaced transversely extending passages 34 which lead to the annular space 35 (see Fig. 6). This annular space constitutes a mixing chamber, wherein the liquid and air mix. It is very important to note that the `mouths of the liquid passages 34 are aligned axially with two of the triangular faces 29 and the adjacent air passages 31 so that the liquid emitted by passages 34 is directly in the path of the air streams through vthese air passages. The reason Y Vfor this construction will be' morecle'arly under- Lio `forms Vwith the bulbous head of cap 32.

stood as the description proceeds.

A pair of spaced grooves 36 (see Figs. 6 and 7), which are axial alignment with two of the apexes 30, are cut in the outer cylindrical surface of the plug body and extend from a point beyond cap 32 to the end 'of the plug body, as clearly illustrated inrFig. 3. The extended ends of these grooves provide air inlet ducts 37 leading to the7 passages formed by grooves 36 to space 38 between the end of the plug body and the cap'. The head of cap 32 is rounded or bulbous as at 39 and is formed to provide an annular knife edge 40s A central air emission opening 41 is provided in the head of the cap andfis' in axial alignment with a constricted emission opening 42 in the head of a sleeve-like cap 43 which nts snugly. over Vthe end of the barrel 1 and surrounds plug 2 and cap 32. The inner surface of the head of cap 43 con- The emission opening 42' is formed so as toprovide an annular knife edge 44. Y

It will be apparent that some of the air passing through air passages 31 Ywill enter ducts 37, pass through grooves 36 to space38 and will be emitted through opening 41.` The specific purpose of this construction is to provide a central body of air to prevent the formation of a cone of only partially disintegrated liquid which would otherwise normally form at the center of the emitted spray. 1n operation, the main body of air and the liquid mix in chamber and the mixture passes over knife edge and over thev bulbous surfaceY 39 and then over knife edge 44 through opening 42.4 The annular knife edges Vmaterially aid in the disintegration of the liquid and the result is that completevdisintegration of the liquid is obtained. The central core of air, which is emitted through opening 41, prevents the inherent formation of a central coneof only partiallydisintegrated liquid which is an objectionable feature-in devices of this nature.

Y The reason for having vthe liquid passages 34 and the air passages 36 arranged as above described with respect to the prisma-tic portion 28 of plug 2 will now be more clearly understood. It is desired that none of the liquid emitted from passages 34 will find its way back through the mixing chamber and into the air passages 36. This is prevented by axially aligning passages 34 with the air passages 3l so that the emitted liquid is in the path lof the onrushing currents of air. Moreover, by locating the air ducts 3,7 in axial alignment with the apexes 30 and'out of alignment with passages 34, only the desired quantity of air finds its way into the air ducts inasmuch as such air must diverge from its straight Vline of travel to enter the ducts. As shown clearly in Fig. 6, the passages 34 are in alignment with the upper two faces 29 while the passages 36 are in alignment with the lower two apexes 30. By means of this arrangement, the respective pairs of passages are separated and the individual passages of each pair are spaced 120 fromone another. vAlthough this arrangement is preferred, any other suitable arrangement may be used.

Continuing now with thedescription, it will be noted that barrel l is formed to provide an annular recess 45 within whichres'ilient washers or rings 46sare seated; The barrel has a' thin extending sleeve portion 47V over which cap 43 snugly nts.VV Washers 46, which may be of rubberor any'other suitablefmaterial, are of such dimension as to seat snugly within the recess 45. These rings are of such internal diameter 'as'to leave a small annular space 48 between them and portion 47' of the barrel. Therannular edgeof lcap 43 is preferably tapered, as at 49, and engages the outermost ring 46. In this manner, a resilient seating for cap 43 is provided, it being understood that Ythis cap isslidable along sleeve portion 47 of thebarrel. lThe cap may be forced inward against the resilient action of rings 46 and this will cause the rings to contract into and lill the annular space 48 to eifect a desired seal. Thus the annular space 48 serves the double purpose of allowing the resilient distortion of the rings to give the desiredv adjustability of cap43 and also allowsthe sealing action mentioned.

Barrel 3 threadedly receivesV a cap 5,0 Vwhose inwardly extending flange 51 engages cap 43 as at 52. The outer surface of cap 5() is knur'led, as illustrated clearly in Fig. 1, so that this caplmay be readily adjusted manually. By moving cap 50, sleeve 43 may be properly adjusted with respect to the bulbous head of cap 32. This, will, of course, vary the area of 'the space 53 between the heads of caps 32 and 43. It will also vary the .position of the emission orice 42 with respect to opening 4l. In this manner, the emitted spray or jet may be varied at will, since it will be obvious thatthe shape and consistency of the spray will depend largely upon the position of Acap 43 relative to the stationary cap 32. The

head 32, the flow of mixed air and liquid fromV the mixing chamber 35 will be prevented. By properly designing the parts so that such adjust,-

'ability of cap 43 is possible, a wide variation in the spray, as well as Vcomplete cutting off thereof, may be effected. L

When the disintegrator is assembled and in use,

liquid is delivered to the knife edges in a nefilm and blown oif at high speed by the air issuing from the central air emission opening 41 and the air which comes around the bulbous head 39 with the liquid. The liquid is sprayed to the knife edge 44 evenly by means of the bulbous projection 39 which is also provided with the knife edge 40 Vfor the first stage of disintegration. The central air stream prevents a core in the jet by forcing the liquid to take a passage via the knife edge, as the central air stream has a priority of exit.

Although a preferred embodiment has been disclosed herein for the purpose of' illustration, various changes and modifications may, of course, be made without departing from the` spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the use of air as an atomizing fluid. The word air in certain of the appended claims is used merely for convenience and is not intended to limit the invention.V

I claim:

l. An atomizing device, comprising a tubular barrel having an air inlet opening, a plug within said barrel having a fluid-conducting passage leading to a mixing chamber, there being airconducting space between'said barrel and said plug leading from said inlet opening to said mixing chamber, and a cap removably carried by said barrel and having a constricted emission aperture, said plugterminating adjacent said emission aperture in a bulbous endlhaving a knife edge located so that the mixed air and fiuid pass over said edge, said plug having an air-conducting passage therethrough leading from said airconducting space to a point adjacent said emission aperture.

2. An atomizing device, comprising a tubular barrel having an air inlet opening, a plug within said barrel and being substantially co-extensive therewith, said plug having a longitudinaliiuidconducting'passage terminating in one or more transverse passages near an end of said plug leading to an annular space between said barrel and said plug which constitutes a mixing chamber, there being air-conducting space between said barrel and said plug leading from said inlet opening to said mixing chamber, and a cap removably carried by said barrel and having an emission orifice communicating radially with said mixing chamber, said plug having an air-conducting passage therethrough leading from said air-conducting space and terminating in an axial emission opening at a point adjacent said orifice, whereby the radially moving mixed air and fluid from said mixing chamber strikes the jet of air from said last-mentioned passage substantially at right angles.

3. An atomizing device, comprising a tubular barrel having an air inlet opening, a plug Within said barrel andwbeing substantially co-extensive therewith, said plug having a longitudinal fluidconducting passage terminating in one or more transverse passages near an end of said plug leading to a mixing chamber, a portion of said plug being of prismatic formation with its flat faces in axial alignment with said transverse passages, whereby air-conducting spaces between said barrel and said plug leading from said inlet opening to said mixing'chamber are provided, and a cap removably carried by said barrel and having an emission orifice communicating with said mixing chamber, said plug having air-conducting passages therethrough leading from saidV air-conducting spaces to a point adjacent said orifice with one or more inlet ducts in axial alignment with the apexes of said portion. v

4. An atomizing device, comprising a tubular barrel having an air inlet opening, a plug within said barrel and being substantially co-extensive therewith', said plug having a longitudinal fluidconducting passage terminating in one or more transverse passages near an end of said plug leading to a mixing chamber, a portion of said plug being of triangular prismatic formation with its fiat faces in axial alignment with said transverse passages, whereby air-conducting spaces between said barrel and said plug leading from said inlet opening to said mixing chamber are provided, and a cap removably carried by said barrel and having an emission orifice communicating with 'said mixing chamber, said plug having air-conducting passages therethrough leading from said air-conducting spaces to a point adjacent said orifice with one or more inlet ducts in axial alignment with the apexes of said portion.

5. An atomizing device, comprising a tubular barrel having an air inlet opening and an annular recess, a plug within said barrel having a luid-conductingpassage leading to a mixing chamber, there being Yair-conducting space between said barrel and vsaid plug leading from said inlet opening to said mixing chamber, packing means in said annular recess, a sleeve-like cap seated on said packing means and having an emission orifice, said cap forming with said plug a passage from said mixing chamber to said orifice, and a cap adjustably carried by said barrel and engaging said sleeve-like cap, whereby the emitted spray may be varied at will.

6. An atomizing device, comprising a tubular barrel having an air inlet opening and an annular recess, a plug within said barrel having a Huid-conducting passage leading to a mixing chamber, there being air-conducting space between'said barrel and said plug leading from said inlet opening to said mixing chamber, one or more resilient rings in said annular recess, a sleeve-like cap seated on said rings and having an emission orifice, said cap forming with said plug a passage from said mixing chamber to said orifice, and a cap adjustably carried by said barrel and engaging said sleeve-like cap, whereby the emitted spray may be varied at will.

7. In an atomizing device, an annular mixing chamber wherein atomizing fiuid and liquid to be vatomized are mixed, an emission orifice located axially with respect to said chamber, means for conveying the mixed fiuid and liquid from said chamber radially to said orifice, a constricted passage with an edge in the path of the mixed fluid and liquid, and means for projecting a jet of atomizing fluid axially through said orifice, whereby the atomized liquid is blown through said orifice in an annular spray surrounding a central core of the atomizing fiuid. v

8. In an atomizing device, an rannular mixing chamber wherein atomizing fiuid and liquid to be atomized are mixed, an emission orifice havingan annular knife edge located axially with respect to said chamber, means for conveying the mixed fiuid and liquid from said chamber radially to said orifice, a constricted passage with an edge in the path of the mixed fluid and liquid, and means for projecting a jet of atomizing fiuid axially through said orifice, whereby the atomized liquid is blown through said orifice and against the knife edge thereof in an annular spray surrounding a central core of the atomizing fiuid.

ARTHURJOHN ADAMS. 

